Index tab mounting means on address printing plates



Sept. 4, 1956 E. OSTWALDT 2,751,453

INDEX TAB MOUNTING MEANS 0N ADDRESS PRINTING PLATES Filed Sept. 23, 1952 'IIIIIII/II/III/lql I/IIIIl/I v I llfiw/fi WWW/11% Inventor:

.E. ()iiwaldii United States Patent INDEX TAB MOUNTING IVIEANS ON ADDRESS PRINTING PLATES Erich Ostwaldt, Berlin-Hermsdorf, Germany, assignor to Adrema Maschinenbau G. m. b. H., Berlin, Germany Application September 23, 1952, Serial No. 310,950

Claims priority, application Germany October 5, 1951 2 Claims. (Cl. 129-163) This invention relates to an improvement in or modification of the address-printing plate claimed in my prior specification Ser. No. 238,047, in which the wider guiding margin is provided with a number of adjacent insertion slots for fiat index tabs to be mounted thereon, and in which the folded-over strip turned upwards extends over only a part of the guiding margin. In order to hold the index tabs fast in the insertion slots, the insertion slots in the said prior specification are narrowed by stamped impressions in the folded-over strip as far as the wall thickness of the tabs, these impressions extending over the entire Width of the folded-over strip. This construction of the insertion slots has the disadvantage that the introduction of the feet of the tab into the narrowed insertion slots gives rise to difficulties. In addition a secure mounting of the tab is not obtained, because the tab foot is not guided enough laterally, but is supported on the printing plate by means of a spacing spring arranged on it which engages behind the edge of the foldedover strip. This spring only protects the tab in that it can free itself from the printing plate when a pull is exerted on it.

These disadvantages are obviated according to the present invention in that the impressions or embossings narrowing the insertion slots extend only along the inner edge of the folded-over strip and only on one part of its width, in such a manner that the insertion space widens towards the slot apertures and facilitates the introduction of the tab foot into the narrowed part. At the same time a secure mounting of the tab in this part is ensured, in that the surface parts of the folded strip located between the depressions are bent inwards and form a lateral guide for the tab feet, which is still further enhanced by the fact that a projection attached to the tab foot can engage in slots which are arranged in the bridge-like element which connects the guiding flange with the actual printing plate.

Further features of the invention can be seen in the following description of one embodiment of the printing plate illustrated in the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is a plan view of the printing side of the addressprinting plate, with a margin according to Fig. 4, and with a tab mounted thereon;

Fig. 2 is a section on line IIII of Fig. 1 and on igs. 3 and 4 on a larger scale, whereby the section extends only over the middle part of the plate;

Figs. 3 to 5 show sections through the guiding margin of the printing plate on the section lines III-HI, IVlV and VV respectively on a larger scale, an inserted tab being indicated in Fig. 4.

The address-printing plate 1, consisting of zinc, aluminum or other material, has on its longitudinal edges folded hollow guiding margins 2 and 3, of which for example the lower margin 2 is narrower than the upper margin 3. Between the two guiding margins at a higher "e1 a flat middle part 1 of the plate is provided, in which 2,761,453 Patented Sept. 4, 1956- the printing characters are impressed, said margins being connected with that middle part by upwardly sloping walls 1a. The folded strip 4 of the upper margin extends however, only over a part of the width of the guiding margin 3, and leaves free on the printing side of the plate a space 5 extending over the whole of its length, which is intended for inserting an indicator strip, which is held secure therein by bent tongues 12, which overlap both ends of the strip. In order to facilitate the removal of the indicator strip, holes 17 are arranged in the guiding margin 3, through which the indicator strip is accessible from the rear by an inserted pin and can be pressed out of its holding tongues.

The upper guiding margin 3 is provided along its outer edge with a plurality of insertion slots 7 for the reception of the foot portion 8 of tabs 9. The folded-over strip 4 is provided, at those points where the insertion slots are located, with stamped depressions 10, which however no longer extend over the whole width of the folded-over strip 4 but only over the half of the strip lying towards the middle part 1 of the plate, and only give rise to a narrowing of the insertion space at the inner edge of the folded-over strip 4 as far as the wall thickness of the tab. Thereby the insertion spaces widen towards the slit openings, as shown in Fig. 4, and facilitate an easy and convenient insertion of the tab foot into the narrowed part of the slot.

This is further aided by the fact that the end edges 7:: and 7b of the slot openings lying opposite to one another are not in the same plane but are staggered relatively to one another and lighten the insertion of the tab feet into the narrowed part of the insertion slots.

in order to give a lateral guidance also to the tab feet the parts 4 (Fig. 3) of the folded-over strip between the insertion slots 7 have rectangular projections 4b perpendicularly turned to the guide margin 3 (Figs. 3 and 4). The side surfaces of said projections abut the side edges of the tab feet and give them a lateral guidance.

For further guiding of the tab feet, gaps 11 are provided in the printing plate at the transition from the guiding margin 3 to the upwardly sloping wall 1a that connects the guiding margin 3 with the middle part 1 of the printing plate 1. These gaps correspond to the insertion slots 7 in the guiding margin 3, but are somewhat narrower. The smaller ends 8a of the tab feet engage in these gaps. The tab feet are therefore laterally supported at three positions on the printing plate, namely in the insertion slots 7, on the side surfaces of the bent edge parts 4b, and in the gaps 11, whereby a fast mounting of the tabs is secured.

The accidental withdrawal of the tabs from the plate is prevented, as in my said prior specification, by spring tongues 81) provided on the tab feet, these tongues, in the end positions of the tabs, engaging behind the outer edges of the associated depressions, as shown in Fig. 4.

What I claim is:

1. In an address-printing device comprising a printing plate having hollow guide margins folded-over on their lengthwise sides and a flat middle part on a higher level to bear the printing characters, said margins being connected with said middle part by upwardly sloping walls, one of said hollow guide margins having along its outer edge a plurality of insertion slots adapted to receive tabs, the folded-over portion of said slotted margin extending for only a part of the width of said margin, and having depressions extending only over a part of the folded-over portion and so related to the slots that the feet of said tabs abut the inner edge of said folded-over portion only near its inner edge and the spaces for the insertion of the tabs widens toward the opening of said insertion slots, the outer end edges of the insertion slots on the slotted margin and on the folded-over portion, respectively lying opposite to one another in differ nt planes sta gered relative to one another, and the parts of the folded-over portion lying between the insertion slots having rectangular projections perpendicularly turned to said slotted margin to form projecting flanges on both sides of said depressions adapted to form lateral guides for the insertion tabs.

2. In an address-printing device comprising a printing plate having hollow guide margins folded-over on their lengthwise sides and a fiat middle part on a higher ievel to bear the printing characters, said margins being connected with said middle part by upwardly sloping walls, one of said hollow guide margins having along its outer edge a plurality of insertion slots adapted to receive tabs, the folded-over portion of said slotted marginextending for only a part of the Width of said margin, having depressions extending only over a part of the foldedover portion and so related to the slots that the feet of said tabs abut the inner edge of said foldedover portion only near its inner edge and the spaces for the insertion of the tabs widens toward the openings of said insertion slots, the parts of said folded-over portion lying between said insertion slots having rectangular projections perpendicularly turned to said slotted margin, the side surfaces of said margins abutting the side edges of the tab feet, and a plurality of slots provided in the upwardly sloping wall connecting said slotted margin with said middle part of the plate, sa-id wall slots being smaller than the insertion slots, and being aligned with said insertion slots, respectively, and adapted to receive therein the inner ends of the tabs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,680,201 Duncan Dec. 2, 1913 1,139,509 Fergusson May 18, 1915 1,735,214 Sehaefer Nov. 12, 1929 1,787,735 Rowse Jan. 6, 1931 1,790,717 Mohler Feb. 3, 1931 1,812,898 Paschali July 7, 1931 2,438,282 Gruver Mar. 23, 1948 

